I cover a wide range of topics in Rearview Mirror: people, places, organizations, sports, the military, schools and even food. But I never thought I’d write a column on toilet paper! Read more
Harold Nagato suggested I do a story on the Manoa War Homes, where Safeway and Longs Drugs stores are now located. “It was built for World War II veterans like my dad,” he said. Read more
The owners of Eki Cyclery on Dillingham Boulevard announced recently that they were closing at the end of this month after 109 years in business. I hate to see venerable old companies shut their doors. Read more
Junior Police Officers, or JPOs, have been an island tradition for as long as I can remember. I found its roots surprisingly go back 98 years to 1922. Read more
Frequent contributor Ken Fujii told me recently that on the Big Island, beef tomato was called tomato beef and shave ice was called ice shave. I wrote about that in my Jan. 17 column. Read more
Sonja Edsman asked me recently when the original Trapp Family Singers first performed in Hawaii. Read more
Recently, Mainard Tom asked if I would write about the first Robert Louis Stevenson Intermediate School, which was located in an old quarry near Alapai and Green streets. Read more
Every year, I write several columns about events and organizations that are passing important milestones. Here are some of the anniversaries taking place this year. Read more
In November I wrote about the 1869 Hawaii visit of Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh. Read more
“It would have been interesting to see what kinds of reactions from the rest of the Hawaiian Islands you would have gotten if you had used ‘ice shave’ in the article,” Ken Fujii said. “Only Big Islanders would understand the obscure term.” Read more
‘Honolulu’s celebration of the new year, culminating at the stroke of midnight, took most of the vociferous energy out of the city’s population, with the result that yesterday was a very quiet and subdued holiday,” The Honolulu Advertiser wrote. Read more
I take a lot of things for granted. For instance, the major road around Oahu is called Kamehameha Highway. I assumed that was always its name. Read more
My last column of the year gives out my annual Rearview Mirror Awards to people who have made a difference in Hawaii and in the world. Here are this year’s honorees. Read more
Every December, I look back on the year and catalog things I learned while writing this feature. There is so much that it usually takes two columns. Here’s part two. Read more
Writing this column is a joy to me. I love learning about Hawaii history and the amazing people, places and organizations that make us so much more than a tiny speck in the vast Pacific Ocean. Read more
I wrote about the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook a while ago, and it reminded Ken Fujii of his first family road trip from Hilo to Kona back in 1944. Read more
Today is Thanksgiving, and one of the things I am thankful for is the Aloha United Way, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Read more
The men’s volleyball program begins in January, and season tickets are available now. Read more
My crack researcher, Steve Miura, told me about Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits, who was performing at the Blue Note last week. Read more
Dr. John Corboy has had an interesting life. He witnessed martial law in Hawaii during World War II, went to Saint Louis School after being kicked out of Punahou School, and founded Hawaii’s largest ophthalmology practice. Read more
My predecessor at the newspaper and mentor, Bob Krauss, used to write a column of several short pieces called In One Ear. In tribute to him today, I thought I’d emulate that. Read more
79